Community Engagement

UWG is committed to providing students with “experiences beyond the classroom that
encourage all campus citizens to discover paths to meaningful engagement with various
perspectives, lifestyles, and cultures and to understand pressing local and global
challenges.”

Students participating in the Honors College at the University of West Georgia will
engage in a variety of experiences that will promote a rewarding and meaningful undergraduate
education. Students are provided with opportunities and experiences outside of the
classroom that will help students learn, understand and engage with others, and develop
the skills and attitudes to become community builders and contribute to the community,
environment and to the world.

As a result, Honors College students participate in community engagement as a requirement
to graduate with Honors College Distinction. Students participating in the community
engagement activities will also be required to reflect on the impact of their contributions
of service and how giving to others is changing themselves.

Definition of Community Service

Community Service is defined as unpaid service, voluntary work performed for civic, charitable, and humanitarian reasons.
Students volunteering in community service are uncompensated and provide services
without the expectations of compensation of any form.

All community service volunteers are expected to abide by University policies and
procedures as outlined in the student handbook.

What are the benefits of Community Service?

Students gain understanding of the issues that most affect their community

Students are included in the process of positive change in the community

Students engage in real-world issues and social problems

Students develop relationships with community members and their organizations

Students gain insight and knowledge in areas with which they may have been unfamiliar

Students may find self-purpose and joy in community service

Many of the skills and knowledge obtained while completing community service can be
applied in the student’s future career

Students will be able to network with a variety of people in a multitude of backgrounds

Students learn the importance of teamwork and working towards a common goal

Ultimately students are more well-rounded and better prepared for their futures

What are the Community Engagement Requirements?

Hours Required: Honors College students are required to participate in 60 hours of community engagement
to graduate with Honors College Distinction. To obain community engagement hours,
students may participate in a combination of "community service" based activities and events sponsored by the Honors College each semester.

Types of Service Required: Service work can be secular or sectarian, occur any time during the student’s undergraduate
status at UWG (i.e., during the summer or other breaks), and can take place anywhere.
Students can select projects based on interests, career choice, passion, and/or availability.

Honors College Sponsored Events: Each semester, the Honors College will sponsor a variety of events to help keep students
engaged and connected such as Fireside Chats with faculty, social and community service
events sponsored by the Honors Council, and our Popcorn and Conversation series that
includes discussions of various topics with faculty, staff, students, and special
guests. Honors College students who attend these events will receive community engagement
hours for participation.

For questions regarding the community engagement requirements, please email honors@westga.edu.

What counts as Community Service?

Volunteering at a community nonprofit organization (examples: Habitat for Humanity,
Public Library, Humane Society, and Big Brothers/Big Sisters)

Taking up collections, such as returnable cans, food drives, donating to a community
organization (as long as it is not to raise money for school, church, or a particular
person)

Snow shoveling, raking and helping neighbors (as long as you are not paid as a job)

Tutoring (unpaid) and helping young kids outside of school hours

Organized events involving litter pick-up, recycling, flower planting and other community
beautification projects, festivals, and Holiday Giving Efforts such as Salvation Army
Bell Ringing and Adopt-A-Family

Mission/service trips may count up to a maximum of 6 hours per day. Travel time may
not be counted

Providing a service to a non-profit organization or the environment without compensation

Involvement in for-profit business projects that address a community service need

What does NOT count toward Community Service?

School activities that only involved those connected to school (examples: cheerleading,
student council, classroom/office aide, coaching assistant, decorating for prom, homecoming
floats, and concessions at sporting events)